Reinforced fabric and method of making same



Jan- 7, 1941- F. B. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,227,685

REINFORCED FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Jan.v,1941. F. B. WILLIAMSmi. 2,227,685

REINFORCED FABRIC AND METHOD 0F MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1937 2Sheeis-Sheet 2 FZ7 9 Jgze m ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1941 `UNITEDSTATES 2,227,685 REINFORCED FABRIC AND DIETHOD I"` MAKING SAME FrankB..Williams and Harold E. Williams,

ge, Mo.

Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,797

Claims;

Our invention relates to reinforced fabrics and methodsof making same.It relates to a type of reinforced fabrics which are employed in innerspring mattress units, spring seatsand backs,

s upholstered furniture and the like for preventing padding resting ontop of springs from being crowded into or between the springs.

In addition to other structural features hereinafter described andclaimed our present inven- 10 tion embodies structural features shownand described, but not claimed, in the patent issued lto us on May 7,1935, having number 2,000,114.

One of the objects of our invention is the provision of a reinforcedfabric of the kind described which embodies novel reinforcing means,which is simple, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order or tobecome permanently misshapen, which is cheapto make, which forms anintegral structure that is adapted to be inserted or rea0 moved, orstored or transported as a unit, and

which is eilicient` in operation.

Our invention provides further a novel method of makingour improvedreinforced fabric structure.

The novel features of our invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our improved reinforcedfabric structure,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flexible fabric strip with resilientmembersthereon, each having at each end an eye, with -two rows ofstitching attaching the two sets of eyes at opposite ends of theresilient members to the strip, and a row of stitching extending acrossand between the resilient members and through the strip between theeyes.

Fig. 2 is a plan view having resilient members similar to those shown inFig. l, attached to the strip by a plurality of 'rows of stitchingacross and between the resilient members between the opposite sets ofeyes.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the resilient members having the eyes atopposite ends. as threaded or interwoven through the fabric strip.

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 having the resilient membersstitched similarly to the fabric strip, the resilient members beingrespectively provided each with an eye intermediate of the end eyes, onerow of stitching attaching the intermediate eyes to the fabric strip.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view, showing `the resilient membersstitched to the fabric, one set of ends of the members only beingprovided with eyes, and a resilient member extending through |55 theeyes.

residen and through 5 end, and through a fabric `strip on which theresilient members rest.

Fig. 8 is a reduced side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a reinforcing structure comprisingresilient members having their end portions extending laterallyto formarms each having an eye, the members respectively extending through theeyes `of adjacent members, vand the members being stitched on and to aplurality of parallel fabric strips.'

Fig. 10 is a plan view similar toFig. 2, showing two rows of linksconnecting theeyes of adjacent resilient members.

Fig. 11 is a plan `view showing the eyes at the ends of the resilientmembers extending Athrough two flexible strips, which ,are stitched tothe fabric strip, a row of stitching extending across and between theresilient members and through the fabric strip intermediate of theeyes.`

Fig. 12 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, show` ing two pliablemembers'respectively extending through the opposite setsof eyes.

Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a structure similar to that shown inFig.` 10, excepting that the stitching is omitted, and the resilientmembers are interwoven through `the fabric strip.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing diagrammatically a means forsimultaneously stitching a p1u rality of rows of stitching acrossandbetween resilient members and through the fabric strip, inreinforcing structures,` such as are shown in Figs. 9 to 13, in whichthe reinforcing resilient members are already connected with each other.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 14.

Similar characters vof reference `designate similar parts in thedifferent views.

l designates a strip of flexible fabric. such as burlap or canvas. Ineach of Figs. l, 2.3, '1, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2 designates each of aplurality of resilient members, preferably straight `parallel spacedapart wires disposed` transversely on the strip i, each resilient member2 having at each end an eye or loop 3.

In Fig. 1, three continuous rows of stitching 4 extend across andbetween the members 2 and through the strip I. Two of the rowsrespectively through the eyes 3, and the third row between the eyes 3 atthe ends of the members 2.

In Fig. 2, the structure corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1 exceptingthat the two outer rows of stitching are disposed respectively at theinner side of and adjacent to the eyes 3.

In Fig. 3, the structure corresponds to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2excepting that the stitching is omitted and the members 2 are interwoventhrough the strip I between the eyes 3.

In Fig. 4 the structure corresponds to that shown in Fig. 2 exceptingthat the resilient members 2a are each provided at its middle portionwith an eye 3a. The intermediate row of stitching 4 extends through theintermediate eyes 3a.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the resilient members 2b are each provided with an eye3 at one end only the other 'end being free. A resilient member such asa spring wire 5 extends through the eyes 3, and holds the members fromlongitudinal movement with respect to each other. Rows of s-titching 4extend across and between the members 2b and through the fabric strip I,in Fig. 5, and hold the members to the strip. In Fig. 6 rows fofstitching 4a respectively extend over and under the members 2b zigzagfashion, and through the fabric strip I.

In Fig. 9 resilient members 2c have their inf termediate portionsdisposed parallel with and spaced apart from each other and disposed ona plurality of parallel fabric strips Ia transversely thereto. Parallelrows of stitching 4 extend across and between the intermediate portionsand through the fabric strips Ia respectively. The end portions of themembers l2c extend parallel with the strips Ia forming arms 6 eachprovided with an eye 3, excepting the member at one'end of the resilientstructure, which member designated by 2d has eyes 3 extending throughthe adjacent eyes 3 of the adjacent member 2c. Each of the members 2c,excepting the member 2c at the other end of the spring structure,extends at the ends of its middle portion through the adjacent eyes 3,whereby the resilient members are pivotally locked to each other.

In Fig. 10, is shown a structure corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2,excepting in that two rows of resilient links l, each having at each endan eye .3, are connected to opposite sets of eyes 3 of the resilientmembers 2 respectively, by having the eyes 3 of each link respectivelyextending through and pivotally engaging the adjacent eyes of themembers 2.

In Fig. 11 resilient members 2, disposed similarly to the members 2,have their middle portions attached to the fabric strip I by a row ofstitching 4 as in Fig. l. 'I'he eyes 3 at opposite ends of the resilientmembers 2 respectively extend through two parallel strips of flexiblematerial I, disposed lengthwise of the fabric strip I, to which they arerespectively attached by two rows of stitching 4.

In Fig. 12, the structure corresponds to that shown in Fig. 2 with theexception that two longitudinal pliable members, as two cords 9respectively extend through the eyes 3 at opposite ends of the resilientmembers 2. For holding the members 9 from longitudinal movement in theeyes 3, the latter are crimped to clampingly engage the members 9adjacent thereto.

In Fig. 13, the structure corresponds to that shown in Fig. 10, with theexception that the stitching 4 is omitted. and the resilient members 2are interwoven between the eyes 3 thereof through the fabric strip I,thus fastening the resilient members to the fabric strip I.

In the structures shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the eyes 3 are slightlyoblique to the plane of the strip I to enable the easy insertiontherethrough of the wires 5. In the structure shown in Fig. 9, the eyes3 are also slightly oblique to the piane of the strips Ia to permit ofthe easy insertion of the members 2c.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown diagrammatically a means by which the spacedapart separate resilient members having at their opposite ends the eyes3 may be attached to the fabric strip I while the latter is continuouslyfed from a roll III, and the different rows of stitching simultaneouslysewed. Such means comprises a plurality of transversely alined sewingelements II disposed in transverse alinement above the fabric strip I inthat portion which has been withdrawn from the roll III. The sewingelementsI I are simultaneously operated to feed and sew the rows ofstitching 4 across and between the middle portions of the resilientmembers 2, the latter being placed one by one on the strip I at the rearof the sewing elements II, and are then carried by the strip I under andpast the sewing elements.

The sewing elements I I may bek disposed spaced apart the properdistances forsewing the rows of stitching 4, where desired to have thestitching engage the resilient members where it may be desired. i

A similar arrangement of the sewing elements II may be similarlydisposed, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 for similarly sewingsimultaneously a plurality of rows of stitching 4 for attaching thespring structures shown in Figs. 9, 10, 1l and 12 to the fabric strip I,as the latter is continuously fed from a roll I0. With this arrangementthe fabric structure thatk is being attached is withdrawn from a roll I2into which it has been wound.

After the completion of the reinforcing of a fabric strip, thereinforced fabric strip may be transversely severed into a plurality ofreinforced strips of the desired dimensions, and the resultantreinforced strips will form integral structures that may be inserted orremoved as units. as desired, or they may be stored or transported asindividual units. n In each of the reinforcements shown in Figs. 9 to 12inclusive, flexible holding connections are 'established between theeyes 3 of each transverse member 2 and the member 2 next adjacentthereto, thereby forming an integral ladder-like structure, which isadapted for handling, storing or shipment as a unit, that may beattached as such at any time or place to a fabric strip which it is toreinforce. 'I'hese reinforcements, are, therefore, adapted for sale asarticles of merchandise separate from the fabric strips.

Other modifications of our invention, within the scope of the appendedclaims, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. A reinforced fabric comprising a flexible fabric strip, separateresilient members thereon, eachhaving at each end an eye, two strips off flexible material through which respectively extend the opposite setsof said eyes, and means `for attaching the structure comprising said twostrips and said members to said strip.

2. A reinforced fabric comprising a flexible fabric strip, separateresilient members thereon, each having at each end an eye, two pliablemembers respectively extending through the opposite sets of said eyes,and means for attaching the structure comprising said resilient membersand e said pliable members to said fabric strip.

3. A reinforced fabric comprising a exible fabric strip, separateresilient members thereon, each having at each end an eye, two pliablemembers respectively extending through and having clamped engagementwith the opposite sets of said eyes, and means attaching the structurecomprising said pliable and said resilient members to said fabric strip.

The method of reinforcing a fabric strip consisting ln establishingholding connection between two nexible longitudinal members and the twoeyes respectively of each of transverse members disposed in alongitudinal row and each having two spaced apart eyes, thereby formingan integral ladder-like structure, and then attaching said structure asa unit atwise upon and to the fabric strip.

5. The method of reinforcing a fabric strip ccnsisting in extending twolongitudinal flexible members through and establishing holdingconnection between them and the two eyes respectively of each oftransverse members disposed in a longitudinal row and each having twospaced apart eyes, thereby forming an integral ladderlike structure, andthen attaching said structure as a unit atwise upon and to the fabricstrip.

d. The method of making a reinforcement for a fabric strip consisting inextending two longitudinal flexible members through the two eyesrespectively of each of transverse members disposed in a longitudinalrow and each having two spaced apart eyes, and crimping said eyes toestablish holding engagement between the eyes and the adjacentlongitudinal members, thereby fo :uw g an integral ladder-like structureadapted for attachment as a unit atwise upon and to a fabric strip.

7. A ladder-like structure for supporting padding on springs comprisinga longitudinal row of transverse members, each having two spaced aparteyes, said eyes being in two longitudinal rows, and links connecting theeyes of adjacent ones of said members.

8. A reinforced fabric comprising a fabric strip, wire members disposedspaced apart side by side and sidewise against said strip and in a rowtransverse to the length of said wire members, each of said wire membershaving two spaced apart eyes, two exible members extending respectivelythrough and engaged and held spaced apart by said two eyes of each ofsaid wire members thus forming with said wire members a unitarystructure, and means attaching saidstructure to said fabric strip.

9. A reinforced fabric comprising a fabric strip, resilient wire membersdisposed spaced apart side by side and sidewise against said strip andin a row transverse to the `lengthcf saidwire members, each of said wiremembers having two spaced apart eyes, two flexible fibrous cord-likemembers extending respectively through and tightly embraced by said twoeyes of each of said wire members Vthus forming with said wire members aunitary structure, and means attaching `said structure to said fabricstrip. i

l0. A reinforcement for a fabric strip comprising resilient wire membersdisposed spaced apart side by side and in a row transverse to the lengthof saidwre members, each of said wire members having two spacedaparteyes, and two iiexible fibrous cord-like members extendingrespectively through and clampingly embraced by said two eyes of each ofsaid wire members thus forming a unitary structure adapted for applica-

